NBA Opening Night is set to begin on Thursday, October 22nd, with the New York Knicks facing the Boston Celtics, and the Minnesota Timberwolves taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. As for the Brooklyn Nets, their first game of the season will be against the Atlanta Hawks on October 23rd. That is two days after the deadline to extend one of their key players.
Will Nets Secure Cam Thomas Extension Before October 21?
The deadline to extend player contracts is on October 21st. Nets’ guard Cam Thomas is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. He is currently looking for an extension from the Nets. Following the Nets’ preseason game against the Clippers, head coach Jordi Fernandez gave Thomas high praise. Thomas finished with 12 points, two rebounds, and one assist. Fernandez said,
“Obviously, we have to give him the ball and he has to score for us, but it was a very good first game, being very efficient with the shots he had.”
Cam Thomas A Rising Star As The Nets Rebuild
Thomas’ time with the Brooklyn Nets has been as unpredictable as any NBA player’s career. In his rookie season, he averaged 8.5 points. Thomas upped that to 10.6 points in his second season, and then more than doubled that at 22.5 in his third year. Last season, Thomas, along with former Net Mikal Bridges were the top two scorers on the team. In his first two NBA seasons, Thomas was a backup guard for Kyrie Irving, whom he considers a mentor. During his rookie season (2021-22), Thomas received significant minutes due to Irving being unable to play in home and away games because of the NBA’s COVID-19 policy at the time.
After the blockbuster trades that sent Irving and Kevin Durant to teams in the Western Conference, Thomas began starting games for the Nets. His improvements have been recognized across the league, but most importantly by the Nets organization.
Speculation and Rumors Around the 2025 Draft
Recently, there has been some speculation that the franchise might not aggressively compete this season. They are projected to land a high draft pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Nets are expected to be major sellers at the trade deadline, potentially offloading large contracts such as those of Ben Simmons, Dennis Schroder, Cameron Johnson, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Dorian Finney-Smith.
As Brooklyn Rebuilds, Will Thomas Be Included In Their Future?
If you look at all 30 teams in the NBA, the majority of them have a star player as the face of their franchise. The teams that seem to be without one are the Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Brooklyn Nets. Just five years ago, these teams had their franchise player and roster depth. Even the underperforming teams in the NBA often have a face of their franchise while going through a rebuild process.
Four seasons ago, the Nets’ roster was considered one of the best in the NBA. Unfortunately, at this time, the Nets may not have the depth to compete in the Eastern Conference. Many expect them to fall short of even the Play-In Tournament. Thomas has proven to be an important piece needed in the Nets’ rebuilding. As the October 21st deadline approaches, it will be interesting to see if the organization will extend his contract and include him in their future. He could become their face of the franchise starting this season.
